The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-12
ANOTHER BIG ROYALTY.
OVER A HALF MILLION DEMANDED
FOR COTTON PROMINENCE.
Destruction by Fire of $500 Bales OF
Cotton in the Shed of Brooks, Nicely
& Co, on Lower Main Street-Sev-
eral Firemen More or Less Injured

eral Firemen More or Less Injured.
Memphis, as the great cotton market oil
the Mississippi valley, it seems must pay
royalty to the fire king for her promi-
hence. Almost every year there are one
or more disastrous losses Ivy this dostruct-
iycagcncy the aggregate in some instances
amounting TO cool hall million and over
Twice has this been the case dur
ing the present year, the first one
being last January, when the Merchants
| shed ON shelby street and some 1000 bales
went up in blaze appalling in its grand
eur and result. Yesterday came the sec
ond visitation.
Shortly before O'Clock u general alarm
came from box II. The fire de-
partment accepted it rs such, and
all turned out with rapidity
commcndublc TO Chief Clcary and his
brave, well trained men. They had been
! informed by telephone rs 10 the location
! OF the fine, knew what prompt action was
necessary, aud had everything arranged
before reaching the scene for lighting the
/ Ul'hlNliIs lllt hlkn' NlllNil INV 'l'i' 70
upon arrival was dishcartCning but with
determination the men set all their forces
10 work.
The mammoth shed Of Brooks, Nicely 4
Co., at the corner Of Main and lluling
streets, was a mass of mrid, hyid flame
within its walls. The peculiar smoke issu-
ing thcrirom, in large grey volumes, indi-
Gated that the fire had gained too much
hcadway 10 be checked by water before
everything dcstructiblc left in its track
was consumed. 80 rapidly had II spread
that il was evident the employees, in their
excitement, had allowed IL Ia gain consid-
cradle Roadway before notifying the iirc-
men. Then too, the three open entrances
created draft, and this fact, added to 10y
rather strong wind, rendered any hope
OF saving the property futile.
Just how the fire originated will prob
ably never be- known. Several theories
were advanced by the throng " spectators,
covering the entire range ot possibilities.
Those connected with the concern were
unanimous Of the opinion that II was
caused by truck passing over and ignitlng
a match. There being no one IN the par
tirular part Of the shed in which II oc.
Cured, il is supposed that sufficient prog
rcss had occurred la insure total loss before
the arrival of help, even before II WIS dis
covered.
The she'd was built in ls7Sby its present
, owners, aud l. by iar one OF the largest in
, dividual concerns oi the kind IN the city,
/ being 2OOXiOO feet in dimensions, covering
the entire hall block between lluliug aud
Trczcyant streets, fronting ON Main. The
I walls Of brick about twenty feet in hight
, were well and compactly built.
/ The firm il one of the largest cotton
!. dealers in the south, aud, fortunately io
b them, all oi their cotton WAS not stored II
their own shed, which being iillcd To IL
utmost capacity, they had 10 seek storng'
iIF their customers In several other sheds
In the burned shed were piled, bal,
upnn bale, 1900 bales ui ~" STANDARD
staple, which had been consigned 10 th'
firm hN their numerous customers from ih'
surrounding country. The tire, which LA,
evidently started somewhere near the cen
ter 81 tile crowded shed, was forced viii
g, almost lightning rapidity through the Ion
: nislr- ol cotton by the brisk east win
which swept through the wide Main stree
n entrance, acting ~ ilumc Ia give forcc
the ruthless ally Of the Kissing flames, Il
they sayngcly licked the nndy mntcril
for destruction Notwithstanding the val
liant and puclv efforts IT the iirrmcn, th
heat was ~ intense that Ia save any Of th,
cotton WIS impossible. Several hundpd
perhaps 900. bales were taken out OF thi
burning shed, hut all ol II WIS mOr o
l,ts damaged. There were some 800 o
400 bales NJ fresh cotton lying along III,
street in front NJ the shed, ready for sior
agr or shipment, and, unfortunately, m
the hurry and excitement of pulling ihl
burning cotton out, II was dragged along
!. side this new cotton, and some III II cnugli
iirc and WIS slightly damaged. Hundred
II willing men worked desperately Ia saw,
i M much ui the cotton IN possible, but thci
) bcst efforts awaited them hut little IN III,
face al such terrific heat, There were tw,
hunars belonging Ia employees oi the shed
> aud the fine horse and buggy NJ W. II
u Gates. cotton buyer NJ No. 26B From
street. in the shed when the fir burst out
y The poor animals were entirely Huf
" rounded los the flames before they coul'
bc hurried out, and thus pcri-hcd In hoI
d. rihlc agony.
The loss iS great and calamitous one
argrrgiting fully S2lOOh, taking ~ con
: ncrtion the damage done the shed, III
wallis ol which cracked aud almost ga,
p. WY frnm the heat, aided 10y the grva
M ur, ,surc against them, and for quite
II space nj bath the southeast aud northcaf
corners they will haze a. be- torn down,
HEY dn not ciumblc aud fall sooner q
: their own weight. The firm ~ iurtuuat
. Ia having the stock IN we'll insured. bu
their gnin Is q heavy blow Ia u long lisi d
insurance companies, which arr ~ follow
INSURANCE.
iduUt Ify tuaufnruf COMPANY ................f nts